Farasan Bank

The Living Oceans Foundation conducts coral reef research in the Farasan Bank, a series of islands along the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia. The Farasan Bank covers an area of about 350 miles north to south and 30 miles east to west, with an estimated 6 million acres of submerged coral reefs and small islands. Jacques Cousteaudescribed the area as the wildest of all reef complexes in the Red Sea in his1953 book The Living Sea. Our 2009 expedition focused on collecting data to map and characterize the various marine habitats, conducting underwater surveys to determine the composition and structure of corals and other reef species, and an examination of the health and resilience of the reef. We surveyed a variety of coral reefs, ranging from outer offshore locations to shallow lagoonal reefs close to shore. By combining satellite imagery of the region with observations on the ground and underwater surveys, we were able to identify areas of unusual biodiversity and health, as well as some of the threats affecting the region. We continue to work with resource managers to identify site-based conservation strategies, such as possible marine protected areas.

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This article, by LOF Chief Scientist Dr. Andrew Bruckner and LOF Coral Reef Ecologist Alexandra Dempsey, on the status of Red Sea corals is a direct result of the research conduction by the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation during …

Highlights: A typology of Saudi Arabian Red Sea coral carbonate systems is developed. Using a GIS, sixteen system end-members are identified, mapped and tallied. Several types of carbonate system are present throughout the length of the Red Sea. Other carbonate …

During this mission in the Austral and Cook Islands, we have covered more miles than any other Global Reef Expedition mission. During this month we will have surveyed 8 different islands in two countries and the Golden Shadow will cover …

Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation

The Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation is dedicated to the conservation and restoration of living oceans and pledges to champion their preservation through research, education and a commitment to Science Without Borders.®